HIGH FIVEFive Texas high school players to watch this month

Photo by Russell WilburnEvan NicholsRunning Back • Splendora • JuniorSplendora is off to its best start in over a decade, anda big reason behind the Wildcats’ tremendous earlyseason performance has been their junior runningback Nichols. The workhorse is averaging more than200 yards rushing per game and already has ninetouchdowns in just four games. All told, the Wild-cats are averaging nearly 300 yards on the groundper game, and Nichols is the tip of that spear.

Photo by Dennis ClarkKalon HeimRunning Back • Venus• SeniorLooking for an under-the-radar playmaker who de-mands the ball in his hands? Look no further thanHeim, who has established himself as one of the mostexciting players in the state. He’s the Bulldogs’ lead-ing rusher, averaging nearly 8 yards per carry, andhe’s superbly talented as a receiver out of the back-field, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. Whereverhe is on the field, the defense better find him.

Photo by Artie GuerreroJalon CatalonSafety • Mansfield Legacy • SophomoreMansfield ISD has no shortage of star power —Mansfield High running back Kennedy Brookssprings to mind — but you should probably add thesophomore defender Catalon to the list. The young-er brother of starting quarterback Kendall Catalon,Jalon leads the Legacy defense in tackles, averagingmore than 14 tackles per game. He’s everywhere forthe Broncos defense.